“The points of today's resolution give a very precise snapshot of the problems of the e-sports sector in Italy. The sector suffers from a lack of definitions and this influences its development. We believe that in this there must be the definition of a perimeter within which to act. Different definitions of what a pro player or a video game competition are, for example, are missing. Worldwide, the gaming market generates value of over 300 billion dollars, while in Italy the market value is around 40 million euros. You understand well that there is a very clear disparity between what happens in the rest of the world and what happens in Italy. Anyone who wants to invest in this sector in Italy has practical problems. There is no safety in investing. A regulation on e-sports that establishes some key principles, partly contained in the resolution presented, would at least allow the establishment of a gaming perimeter. Without this assumption in Italy we are heavily penalized. Our neighbors in San Marino have created an e-sports code to allow operators to work in peace, which is exactly what we ask for. France also has specific laws on e-sports. We therefore believe the time has come for Italy to adapt to allow the many operators in the sector to have basic rules".
He said so Louis Caputo (in the photo), founder of the Italian Esports Observatory, heard by the joint Culture and Work Commissions of the Chamber on the resolution concerning the introduction of an e-sports discipline.
“Today chess is recognized by CONI as a sport, the same should apply to video games, but it is still difficult to accept it. There are coaches, mental coaches, nutritionists, team managers, there is a real industry that revolves around the figures of pro players to bring out their talent. Consequently - added Caputo - not intervening with legislation that can at least give general definitions risks not allowing all the related activities to emerge. Companies are interested in participating in major e-sports events, but in Italy it is not possible because even a prize pool of just one thousand euros means gambling. An alignment at European level would allow us not to lose our talents who are going to play abroad. For us there are three main interventions to be made: making e-sports competitions a legally recognized system, framing the figure of the pro player and the professional figures that revolve around him, offering help from the State to companies that want to invest in this world".
